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Ouch! When to worry about bruising

Bruising is our body's normal and natural reaction to injury. Babies and children, when they're finding their way in the world and working out how their bodies work - tend to get more bruises than you'd imagine. It's normal to worry about our children when they seem to bruise readily - but when should you really worry about bruising?

When to worry about a bruise

Bruises can be all the colours of the rainbow, with a range of shapes and patterns. While we traditionally think of a bruise as being a small black bruise there are other types of bruising, and some require medical attention:

Small red dots, around 1mm-3mm in size accumulated under the skin, often found on the legs, are known as Petechiae and require further medical attention.

Bruising behind the ear, known as Battle's Sign, can be an indicator of skull fracture.

Multiple bruises that appear without injury, which are firm and raised above the skin, require further investigation.

Feeling pressure or pain in the area of a bruise requires urgent medical attention.

Any red streaks or pus that appear around or on a bruise can indicate an infection, as can fever. So see your doctor for treatment if you experience these symptoms.

Most bruises will resolve themselves in 10 - 14 days, but it can take up to a month for some bruises to fully clear. However, if a bruise remains firm, or gets bigger and more painful a hematoma may have developed and you'll need to see a doctor for treatment.

The life cycle of a bruise

When the skin receives a blow, it'll bruise when the blood vessels break and the blood leaks out leaving a red, purple or black mark on the skin. Bruises can be flat, or slightly raised, depending on the amount of blood that leaks out. Over the next day or two the bruise will change colour and take on a bluish hue.

By around day six, the haemoglobin will break down and the area will start to heal, taking on a greenish hue as it does so. When the bruise turns yellow or brown, around 8 or 9 days in, it's a sign that the bruise is in its final stages as the body reabsorbs the blood.

Treating a bruise

Bruises will tend to fade away of their own accord, but you can help them fade a little quicker. Here's how:

Apply ice or a cold, damp washcloth to the bruise for 20 minutes on, and 30 minutes off for the first 24 hours.

Use a heat pack to help disperse the old blood after the first 24 hours. Apply heat for 30 minutes at a time.

Give the age-appropriate dose of paracetamol to relieve any pain, if required.

Natural remedies such as arnica cream can also help bruise healing.

Most bruises are simply a sign that we've hurt ourselves and are nothing to worry about. However, if you're ever concerned, it's always a good idea to seek medical advice.